Goa

Where: Bondla , Anjuna ... Most people associate the monsoons months of June-August with off-season in Goa. But a seasoned traveller will instantly tell you the advantages of heading to Goa during this period. For one, you can take long strolls on the beaches without having to bump into hoardes of other eager tourists or venture a little into the waters during high tide. Heavy duty adventure waters sports take a backseat during the monsoons, but you can always make good use of a day with clear...

PANAJI: Goa's Art and Culture department has withdrawn its circular on dress code in office and allowed semi-formal and smart casuals for its staff in a fresh direction. The department earlier had banned sleeveless tops and jeans in office evoking strong reaction from Opposition Congress party. "All the employees are now hereby informed that they shall wear semi formal or formal dress or smart casuals at official functions of this department as well as in the office to...

panaji: yet another mid-term election in goa irks industry, trade and particularly the tourism sector, which counted heavily on bjp chief minister manohar parrikar to provide the much needed stability to this politically volatile state. in last twelve years of political instability where more than a dozen governments were made and unmade with repeated sordid game of splits and defections, the industry and business were the worst sufferers. "lack of continuation in economic policies, lack of effective...

It is gratifying to note that the task force set up by the state government to prepare the Goa Regional Plan-2021, has unanimously recommended scrapping of special economic zone (SEZ) projects. It has concluded that the "SEZs are detrimental to the overall interest of Goa. " The SEZs may have served some purpose earlier, but it has become an anachronism today. It is time other state governments followed the example of Goa and scrapped SEZs and concentrated on raising the economic...

PANAJI: The Goa Government has pinned hopes on the defence sector to generate large-scale employment for local youth and aims to create 50,000 jobs in the next five years. "The Defence Ministry has given order worth Rs 32,400 crore to Goa Shipyard Ltd. This will create employment opportunities for around 25,000 people. At least 10,000-15,000 of these will go to youths from Goa," Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said in his Budget presented today in the...

PANAJI: An Indian Navy surveillance aircraft crashed south-west off Goa coast with two officers, including a woman, missing while one has been rescued. The Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft, which was on a routine training sortie, lost contact with the Naval Air Station in Goa last night at 22:08 hours. "The aircraft is feared to have ditched soon thereafter. The aircrew onboard the aircraft comprised three officers (two Pilots and one woman...

Goa's home to several famous beaches that continue to draw visitors from all over the world. This tiny emerald land on the western coast of India boasts of natural scenic beauty, attractive beaches, churches and temples, is famous for its architecture, feasts and festivals and above all hospitable people with a rich cultural milieu, which is an ideal tourist profile. Goa, in addition to fun and frolic, is also looked upon as a venue for business meetings and conferences. Corporates today believe that Goa...

NEW DELHI: Political developments in Goa today rocked both Houses of Parliament with the BJP-led NDA terming dismissal of the Manohar Parrikar government as "a murder of democracy", forcing adjournment of the houses for the day. In the Lok Sabha, slogan-shouting BJP members insisted on admission of an adjournment motion moved by Opposition leader LK Advani on the issue but Speaker Somnath Chatterjee disallowed it, saying, "I withhold my consent on...

MUMBAI: Corporate marketing touched new heights in Goa this year as major companies like Reliance Infocomm and Kingfisher Airlines advertised in the 'Viva Carnival', Goa's most colourful and celebrated festival. Participating for the first time, 'The King of Good times' invested around Rs 20 lakh for the Carnival, which included sponsoring floats, live bands, advertising at major airports like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore; and also putting up hoardings for the...

Like many people, Abhisek Sarda likes to have company on his way to work. Every morning, the 30-yearold entrepreneur meets up with his travel companion, Bodoni, and to gether they go to office. While this may sound unexceptional, it is not—Bodoni is Sarda's pet dog. This lifestyle is possible only because Sarda, who runs two startups, works in Goa's legislative capital Porvorim and not a metro. Being in a...

PANAJI: Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, on Saturday, announced the launch of its Big 92.7 FM in Goa. With this launch, the number of Adlabs Films' Big FM stations has risen to 18. "In the first phase of its launch, Big FM set up stations in metros like Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata and Mumbai," Goa station Head Manisha Tripathi told media. She said the second phase took the network to several cities including Jammu, Srinagar, Aligarh, Jhansi,...

PANAJI: Taking a dig at Goa's Art and Culture Department's order asking its employees not to wear sleeveless clothes, jeans and T-shirts during office hours, Congress leader Alexio Reginaldo today said people should be allowed to wear what they want. He said the BJP government in the state was coming up with these sort of orders only to divert public attention to cover up its failure to run the administration properly. "People should be allowed to wear what...

PANAJI: The Opposition members in Goa Assembly today criticised the state tourism department for huge expenditure on its foreign and domestic events, without conducting a pre-audit of the expenses. The Opposition, led by independent MLA Vijay Sardesai, pointed out that former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had assured during monsoon session of the House that pre-audit of such expenses would be done. "The assurance has not been adhered to and tourism...

PANAJI: Goa's Gross State Domestic product ( GSDP ) showed an upward trend during last financial year despite economic slowdown due to ban on iron ore exports in the state, as per the Economic Report. The state's GDP which was hovering around 20.20 per cent in 2011-12 before the iron ore exports were closed, had crashed to 4.17 per cent during last financial year (2012-13). The Economic Report, which was tabled during the ongoing state Legislative...

NEW DELHI: The environment ministry may have lifted the ban on iron ore mining in Goa, but the coastal state's economic "lifeline" probably won't be functional till October, chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar told ET. "They (miners) are required to invest every year before the beginning of the season, which commences from September-October and continues till May. As of now, we have reached the fag end of March, they would get only 45 or 60 days....

PANAJI: The budget session of Goa Legislative Assembly began here today. The state budget will be presented on March 25 and the session will culminate on March 27. BJP Legislator Laxmikant Parsekar for the first time sat in the chair of Leader of the House after becoming the Chief Minister following resignation of Manohar Parrikar from the post. Newly-elected BJP MLA from Panaji, Siddharth Cuncolienkar made his maiden...

GOA: Goa, which is no doubt the most sought-after tourist destination in the country, plans to develop world-class infrastructure to attract industry. The state, which already has many industrial estates, wants to develop SEZ pockets to boost exports and industrial growth. The state government plans to invite players in the food-processing and pharma sectors to set up shop here. It's also thinking of an apparel park to boost trade and fashion. The government plans to set up an SEZ for...

PANAJI: ICICI Lombard has successfully fended off competition from six other bidders to emerge as the implementing agency for the new health insurance scheme launched by Goa, State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane announced on Monday. Rane said that ICICI Lombard had quoted the lowest premium for the scheme, which will cover more than 3.5 lakh households, with each family comprising five or less members. The scheme will come into effect from September this year. ...

PANAJI: In a veiled attack on the previous Congress-led Goa government , Governor Mridula Sinha today accused it of leaving the state's finances in "stress" and "debt liability. " "The state, having successfully countered the global economic slowdown of the recent years, was pushed into tight financial phase due to stoppage of mining resulting from Supreme Court orders," Sinha said, addressing the first day of the Legislative Assembly ...

PANAJI: Goa Legislative Assembly today passed a resolution congratulating former chief minister Manohar Parrikar who was elevated as defence minister last year, even as two BJP MLAs hoped the BJP stalwart will become prime minister in future. "We should not be surprised if we see Parrikar as prime minister of the country in future. We wish that he should be the PM," State Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar said while addressing the Legislative Assembly session on its first...